The 21-year old Midtown mom killed it on American Idol tonight with her version of Aretha Franklin’s “Never Loved A Man.”

Even Simon Cowell was impressed, comparing Grace to Kelly Clarkson and calling her
a potential “dark horse in this competition.”

CA arts critic Christopher Blank caught up with the singer for an interview that appeared in today’s newspaper.

Said Grace, “My dad is a Memphis musician. I’ve been around soul and blues all my life. There’s always been musicians coming and going in my house. Ann Peebles is a big influence of mine. You know, and Stax records from back in the ’60s. I love that era. As far as my style, I’d say it is soul and a little bit of country in there too. A little twang.”

Go here for the rest of the interview.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Music Foundation is mounting a “Vote for Memphis Music” campaign to support Grace and Lil Rounds, another local American Idol finalist who is slated to appear on live TV later this week.

The Fox TV program is shining a light on Memphis in other ways: 28-year old Jackie Tohn opened tonight’s broadcast with her version of Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation”, while 22-year old Nashville resident Ann Marie Boskovich weighed in with a take on Aretha’s “Natural Woman.”